Economy, astrology and nostalgia

India after the global crisis by Shankar Acharya

Orient Blackswan. Pages: xiii+226. Price: not mentioned

When Lehman Brothers, the fourth largest global financial services firm that dealt in investment banking among other things, declared bankruptcy in 2008 western economies went through mega-quakes, which hit hard many other countries too. The world output declined in 2009. GDPs tumbled in Europe by 4.3%, Japan by 6.3%, USA by 3.5%, UK by 4.9% and Russia by 7.8%. Interestingly, while India’s GDP grew by 7 to 8.5 percent between 2008 and 2011, China’s economy cantered along at 9 percent.

Obviously, there have to be strong fundamental reasons behind this sterling performance by the two giant Asian economies. However, India has not remained totally immune to the Global Recession’s adverse effects. Inflation, downturn in investments – both foreign and indigenous – in infrastructure and industry, flight of capital, slowdown in the industrial growth etc are the visible signs of stress. Moreover, the government’s poor supply-side management and overwhelming dependence on fiscal measures and demand-side management to check inflation came under the scanner.  

Acharya has provided us with a comprehensive picture of the existing economic scenario in the country. He has also analyzed various external and domestic factors that can affect the Indian economy’s performance. This book is a must on the bookshelves of economists and policy makers.

You & your life stars by IK Sharma

Shraddha Publications. Pages: 189. Price: Rs. 451/-

There are contending claims about astrology’s place(s) and period(s) of origin. However, every civilization has its own template for predicting the future. Indian astronomy and astrology developed together. The authors, who were first identified as having written treatises on astronomy, are from the 5th century CE, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin. Besides the theories of Aryabhatta in the Aryabhatiya and the lost Arya-siddhānta, there is the Pancha-Siddhāntika of Varahamihira. Although astrology had developed as a serious study of the movement of various stars, planets and comets it gradually began to cater to the people’s natural desire for knowing future events. It has been both eulogized and condemned by thinkers over the millennia. For example, Hippocrates had remarked, “A physician without a knowledge of astrology has no right to call himself a physician.” But, centuries later, Voltaire had been vitriolic in his condemnation, “Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy – the mad daughter of a wise mother. These daughters have too long dominated the earth.”

Nevertheless, this book details the art and science of astrology. In its various chapters it explains the system’s basics and compares different methods of making predictions, viz., numerology, Chinese horoscopes, palmistry, Tarot cards etc. Sharma also provides case studies wherein his predictions had been remarkably accurate. If you are a serious student of astrology or want to do your own calculations to know about yourself and the future then this book could be of interest to you.

Those black trunks of memories by Sukhjit Singh

Wordizen Books. Pages: 302. Price: Rs. 195/-

Memories have a way of lingering in our consciousness, like some subtle scent that stays with us and becomes a part of our persona. Not all memories are pleasant, but then not all are unpleasant either. In this book Sukhjit –or, rather his alter-ego Habshi – recalls his days at Sainik School, Kapurthala (Saikap) which he acknowledges as his magical realm. These are sweet-sour memories of the hostel life where he encountered teachers, classmates and playmates that left lasting stamps on his mindscape. While reading this book I recalled these lines from Charles Lamb’s The Old Familiar Faces:

“I have had playmates, I have had companions
In my days of childhood, in my joyful schooldays –
All, all are gone, the old familiar faces.”

Worth a read.

Published in The Tribune dated February 26, 2012